Closure assembly for pressure vessels

ABSTRACT

A closure assembly for a pressure vessel having at least one open end in which a plurality of girder assemblies extends across the open end, with each of the girder assemblies consisting of a plurality of girders which are connected together. Each girder assembly is individually releasably connected to the vessel.

United States Patent 1191 Jorgensen 1 Aug. 20, 1974 [54] CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURE 2,542,151 2/1951 McAuliffe, Jr 52/262 VESSELS 3,008,195 11/1961 Coffey 52/730 3,308,583 3/1967 Chaneymf 52/650 Inventor: nd M. Jorgensen, Tenafly, NJ. 3,662,502 5/1972 Wright 52/650 [7 1 Assignee: 9 f Wheeler Corporation, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Lvmgsmn Ni 251,598 12/1944 France 220/1 B [22] Filed: Sept. 22, 1971 Primary ExaminerGeorge E. Lowrance [21] Appl' 182780 Assistant Examiner-Allan N. Shoap Attorney, Agent, or Firm-John E. Wilson; Marvin A. [52] US. Cl 220/24 R, 52/90, 52/246, Naigur 220/1 B, 220/55 D [51] Int. Cl. B65d 39/00, E041) 1/32, A47j 27/08 57] ABSTRACT [58] Field of Search 220/24 R, 1 B, 5 A, 55 D, l l

220/55 R 55 BD, 29 30, 31, 217/4, 56, A closure assemb y for a pressure vesse havmg at 76 least 9116 open end in Which a plural1t Of girder assembhes extends across the open end, with each of the 1561 411:1 2 :22:12:ts;125211592261321222521?1: 2 45 44 755? STATES PATENTS individually releasably connected to the vessel. 1

,1 2 1 1 Hansen 217/4 2,147,952 211939 Raymond et al 217 4 8 ClaIms, 12 Drawing Flgures Pmeminm 3,830,397 SHEET 1G 3 INVENTOR SVEND M. JORGENSEN PAIENIEMuszmsu SIEEI2N3 1N VENTOR SVE ND M. JORGENSEN ATTORNEY PAIENTEDwszmsn SKEEI 3N3 FIG. 9.

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INVENTOR SVEND M. JQRGENSEN CLOSURE ASSEMBLY FOR PRESSURE VESSELS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION utilize high-pressure vessels, such as reactors, converters, etc., that require full-size end openings with closures that are removable to permit insertion and with drawal of men, external materials, equipment, etc. With the increasing use of relatively large vessels of this type having inner diameters in excess of feet, the closures for such vessels must often have a thickness in excess of 50 inches and a weight in excess of 500,000 pounds. It can be appreciated that not only is it extrerhely difficult to manufacture a unitary closure of this size, but that any closure of such size and weight would be extremely difficult to handle and transport, as well as assemble and disassemble in the field. Also, once these types of closures are installed, it becomes very difficult to open and close them, due to their size and weight.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a closure assembly for a pressure vessel which is made upof a plurality of component parts that can be easily handled, transported, assembled and disassembled.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a closure assembly of the above type in which all or a portion of the vessel can be opened and closed relatively easily to permit the insertion and withdrawal of men, external equipment, materials, etc.

Towards the fulfillment of these and other objects, the closure assembly of the present invention comprises a plurality of girder assemblies extending across the open end of said vessel, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders, and first connecting means for connecting the girders of each assembly together; and second connecting means for connecting each of said girder assemblies to said vessel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial top plan view of one embodiment of the closure assembly of the present invention shown mounted in a pressure vessel;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial, enlarged, exploded perspective view of the assembly of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but depicting an advanced stage of assembly of the closure assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the assembly of FIGS. 14;

FIG. 6 is a partial view, similar to FIG. 2, but depicting an alternate embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but depicting an additional embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 8-10 are partial views similar to FIG. 2, but depicting three additional embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a partial top plan view depicting still another embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 12l2 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring specifically to the embodiment of FIGS. 1-4, a pressure vessel is shown by the reference numeral 10 which has an open upper end with a circular flange 12 being formed around the outer wall thereof and extending flush with the latter end. Two oppositely spaced arcuate slots 14a and 14b are formed through the flange 12 for reasons that will be explained in detail later.

The closure assembly of the present invention is designed to close the upper end of the vessel 10 and comprises a plurality of girder assemblies 16 extending across the end of the vessel with each assembly varying in length depending on its relative location from the axis of the vessel. Each girder assembly 16 is formed by a plurality of equal-length girders 18, each having a plurality of enlarged slots 20 formed therethrough for weight reduction pruposes. As better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the girders 18 are spaced apart by a plurality of spacer blocks 22 extending between the girders at spaced intervals along the lengths of the girders. According to a preferred embodiment, each girder assembly 16 includes five girders 18 along with four sets of spacer blocks 22 extending therebetween. A plurality of shear pins 24 extend through registering openings formed through the girders 18 and the spacer blocks 20 of each assembly in order to fasten the components together.

The girder assemblies 16 are individually fastened relative to'the vessel 10 by means of a plurality of anchor plates 26 which extend between alternating girders 18 at the ends thereof. As better shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each anchor plate 26 has a notch 28 formed therein which enables it to be supported within the slot or 14b. This is achieved by inserting the anchor plates 26 in the slot 14a or 14b by turning them in a direction perpendicular to the direction shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, inserting them into and through the slot, and then turning them back to the position shown in FIG. 2 where they will be secured against vertical movement.

A plurality of slots 18a are formed in the ends of the girders 18 which register with corresponding slots 26a formed in the anchor plates 26 for receiving a lattice assembly shown in general by the reference numeral 30, to further secure the girders 18 of each girder assembly 16 together and to secure each girder assembly relative to the vessel 10. The lattice assembly30 comprises a series of shear bars 32 which are of a width and depth to permit them to be inserted in the registering slots 18a and 26a, and a length corresponding to the width of each girder assembly 16. A pair of support bars 34 connect the shear bars 32 of each lattice assembly 30 together in the spaced relationship shown. Each lattice assembly 30 can be fastened to its respective girder assembly 16 by applying proper bolts through registering openings 36 formed in the lattice assembly 30 and in the bottoms of the slots 18a.

As shown in FIG. 5, the slots 26a formed in the anchor plates 26 are of greater depth than the slots 18a formed in the ends of the girders 18 so that in the event it is desired to remove one or more girders 18 and/or girder assemblies 16 frorr the complete closure assembly, the particular lattice assembly 30 need only be moved the necessary distance outwardly to clear the ends of the girders 18 and still can be supported in the slots 26a.

Referring again to FIG. 2, a seal plate 40 extends over the bottom surface defined by the beam assemblies 16 and into a corresponding annular shoulder 42 formed in the inner wall of the vessel 10. A reinforcing grid 44 is also supported by the shoulder 42 and extends below the seal plate 40. The reinforcing grid 44 is formed by a plurality of interconnected bars in a conventional manner and functions to support the closure assembly and prevent collapse of the assembly during handling.

It can be appreciated that the girders 18, along with their supporting structure, can be shop-fabricated and may be assembled in their proper position along with the anchor plates 26 before the slots 18a and 260 are machined in both members simultaneously.

The embodiment of FIG. 6 depicts two additional optional features of the closure assembly of the present invention, with the structure and arrangement being otherwise identical to that of the previous embodiment. In particular, an access cylinder 50 extends through a bore defined by a plurality of the girders 18 at or near the central portion of the closure assembly. The access cylinder 50 is adapted to accommodate pumping and instrumentation connections and has a plug 54 removably secured to its upper end by means of a plurality of shear studs, one of which is shown by the reference numeral 56, A radial fixture S8 is connected to the access cylinder 50 and provides a radial connection to the bore defined by the cylinder 50. A seal plate 59 extends over the bottom of the beams as in the previous embodiment and is formed to receive the through cylinder 50.

It is understood that the access cylinder 50 may be 7 located at any position along the closure assembly according to the particular design requirements.

According to another feature shown in FIG. 6, a plurality of beam supports 60 may be provided in the openings 20 through the girders 18 in order to add strength to the assembly. The assembly of FIG. 6 is otherwise identical to the assembly of FIGS. 1-5 and will therefore not be described in any further detail.

In the embodiment of FIG. 7, the closure assembly is adapted to close the open end of a vessel identical to the vessel shown in the previous embodiments, with the same reference numerals being given to the vessel structure. In accordance with the arrangement of FIG. 7, a plurality of girder assemblies extend over the open end of the vessel 10 as in the previous embodiment, with each girder assembly consisting of a plurality of girders 64, each formed by a portion 64a and a portion 64b which overlap slightly at their adjacent end portions. A plurality of spacer blocks 65 can be provided between the adjacent girders l8 and fastened relative thereto by a plurality of shear pins 66.

A plurality of anchor plates 67 are provided which extend through the slots 14a and 14b of the vessel 10 in a manner similar to the anchor plates 26 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The girder portions 64a and 64b are alternately spaced between their corresponding anchor plates 67 and are pivotally mounted thereto by means of shear bars 68 which extend through the girder portions and through the anchor plates of each individual assembly. A rectangular shear bar 70 extends in registering slots formed through the girder portions 64a and 64b, to lock the girder portions together. As in the previous embodiments, each girder portion 64a and 64b has openings 72 extending therethrough to reduce their weight. The assembly is completed by a seal plate 74 and a reinforcing grid 76 which are identical to those of the emboidment of FIGS. l-5.

The embodiment of FIG. 8 is similar to that of FIG. 7 and features the use of a girder portion 80a and a girder portion 80b which overlap at their end portions. According to the main feature of this embodiment, the overlapping end portions of the girder portions 80a and 80b are connected by means of a shear bar 82 extending through a continuous bore defined by the girder portions. As in the previous embodiments, the girder portions 80a and 80b would be connected to the vessel by means of anchor plates (not shown), and the entire closure assembly would be made up of several girder assemblies, each consisting of a plurality of girders, anchor plates, and spacer blocks. e

The embodiments of FIGS. 9 and 10 are similar to those of FIGS. 7 and 8, but utilize a different arrangement for connecting the overlapping girder portions. In particular. in FIG. 9 each girder is formed by two portions 84a and 84b which overlap at their adjacent end portions and which are connected at their other end portions to the vessel in the same manner as in the embodiments of FIGS. 7 and 8. In the embodiment of FIG. 9, a plurality of continuous bores 86 is defined by the overlapping end portions of the girder portions 84a and 84b, with a shear bar 86 extending in each bore in order to connect the girder portions together.

The embodiment of FIG. 10 is identical to that of FIG. 9, with the exception that two overlapping girder portions 90a and 90b define a plurality of registering slots on their upper surfaces which accept the shear bars 92 of a lattice assembly shown in general by the reference numeral 94.

As in the previous embodiments, the girder portions 840 and 84b of the embodiment of FIG. 9 and the girder portions 90a and 90b of the embodiment of FIG. 10 form a single girder which, along with four other girders of a similar design, constitute one of a plurality of girder assemblies forming the entire closure assembly. Also, the supporting structures such as the seal plates reinforcing grids and spacer blocks of the previous embodiments may be incorporated in these embodiments.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 11 and 12 the closure assembly for the vessel 10 is formed by a plurality of girder assemblies each of which consists of four continuous girders 102 which are spaced apart by four elongated spacer girders 104 extending for substantially the entire length of the girders 102. The girders of each girder assembly 100 are connected together by a plurality of shear bars 106 which extend through registering holes formed in the girders 102 and in the spacer girders 104. Also, a plurality of shear bars 108 extend in registering notches formed in the upper and lower surfaces of the girders 102 and the spacer girders 104.

Each girder assembly is connected relative to the vessel by means of a plurality of anchor plates 110 which extend in the annular notch 14b. The anchor plates 110 are alternately spaced between the girders 102 and are connected relative to the flange 12 of the vessel 10 in the same manner as discussed in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5. The anchor plates 110 have a plurality of notches formed in the outer surface thereof which register with corresponding notches formed on the corresponding ends of the girders 102 in order to receive a plurality of shear bars 112 of a lattice assembly 114 to connect the girders to the anchor plates.

The other end portions of the girders 102 of each girder assembly 100 have aligned openings extending therethrough which register with corresponding openings formed in a series of anchor plates 116 extending in the slot 14a. The anchor plates 116 are alternately spaced between the girders 102, and an enlarged shear bar 118 extends in the latter openings to provide a pivotal connection between each girder assembly 100 and the vessel wall 110.

It can be appreciated that the various components of the closure assembly of any of the above embodiments can be shop-fabricated and easily tranwported before their final assembly. Also, allor aportion of the closure assembly may easily be removed from its normal position to permit relatively easy access to the interior of the vessel.

Of course, other variations of the specific construction and arrangement of the closure assembly for pressure vessels disclosed above can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closure assembly for a vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders, a plurality of shear bars extending in registering slots formed in the girders forming each girder assembly, and means for connecting the shear bars associated with each girder assembly to form a quick releasable unitary lattice assembly for connecting the girders of each assembly together; and means for connecting each of said girder assemblies to said vessel.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said girders is formed by two overlapping girder portions, said openings being formed in the overlapping portions of said girder portions.

3. A closure assembly for a vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of shear bars extending in registering open-ended slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor plates, and means for connecting the shear bars associated with each girder assembly to form a quick releasable unitary lattice assembly.

4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising spacer plates extending between adjacent girders in each girder assembly, said means for connecting the girders of each assembly together being adapted to connect the girders of each girder assembly to their corresponding spacer platesv 5. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a hollow access cylinder extending through at least one of said girder assemblies to permit access to said vessel.

6. A closure assembly for a vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of registering slots formed in said girders and said anchor plates, and at least one shear bar extending in the slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor plates, the length of the slots formed in said anchor plates being greater than the lengths of the slots formed in said girders to permit removal of said girders from the vicinity of said anchor plates while said shear bar is supported by the slots in said anchor plates.

7. A closure assembly for a cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together, the length of the girders in each assembly being equal, and the lengths of said girder assemblies varying in accordance with the distance from the axis of said vessel; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and being adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of shear bars extending in registering open-ended slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor. plates.

8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the girders forming each assembly are spaced apart and further comprising spacer means extending in the spaces between adjacent girders, said anchor plates also extending in said spaces. 

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said girders is formed by two overlapping girder portions, said openings being formed in the overlapping portions of said girder portions.
 3. A closure assembly for a vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of shear bars extending in registering open-ended slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor plates, and means for connecting the shear bars associated with each girder assembly to form a quick releasable unitary lattice assembly.
 4. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising spacer plates extending between adjacent girders in each girder assembly, said means for connecting the girders of each assembly together being adapted to connect the girders of each girder assembly to their corresponding spacer plates.
 5. The assembly of claim 3 further comprising a hollow access cylinder extending through at least one of said girder assemblies to permit access to said vessel.
 6. A closure assembly for a vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of registering slots formed in said girders and said anchor plates, and at least one shear bar extending in the slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor plates, the length of the slots formed in said anchor plates being greater than the lengths of the slots formed in said girders to permit removal of said girders from the vicinity of said anchor plates while said shear bar is supported by the slots in said anchor plates.
 7. A closure assembly for a cylindrical vessel having at least one open end, said assembly comprising a plurality of girder assemblies extending across said open end, each of said girder assemblies comprising a plurality of girders and means for connecting the girders of each assembly together, the length of the girders in each assembly being equal, and the lengths of said girder assemblies varying in accordance with the distance from the axis of said vessel; a plurality of anchor plates alternately spaced between the girders of each girder assembly and being adapted for connection to said vessel, a plurality of shear bars extending in registering open-ended slots formed in the girders of each girder assembly and their corresponding anchor plates for securing said girders to said anchor plates.
 8. The assembly of claim 7 wherein the girders forming each assembly are spaced apart and further comprising spacer means extending in the spaces between adjacent girders, said anchor plates also extending in said spaces. 